Preparing for Postgraduate Clinical Exams

Preparing for the postgraduate clinical exams can be stressful, costly and time consuming. So, I will bestow some advice to help you be economical with both your time and your finances.

We all hate being watched whilst we talk or examine patients. Brings you back to those horrid medical school OSCE’s. I don’t know about you but I hated them and I always felt they never really demonstrated how good I was. Unfortunately, love or hate them there is no escape.

So let’s make it a pass first time round.

Courses – It’s important to get yourself booked onto at least one course. Which course? This depends on your speciality. As long as it covers all the stations, has great reviews and is recommended. Go for it. Just remember to book early. Check opening dates, contact the course and be asked to be put on a reserved list. They want you to book so they will get in touch and hopefully prioritise you.

Should you do more than one course? book as many as you can? Keep reading and have a think.

The reason for going on courses is to see signs in real life and know what to do. Of course, you know what to do but it’s somehow different once the sign you read about is actually in front of you in exam condition.

Outpatient clinics - My advice is to find out when the outpatient clinics attended by the specialists are happening (for the various systems) in your hospital. When you have a doctor from a tertiary hospital coming to do the clinic the patients are complex and therefore not typically seen by generalists. In paediatrics at least, a general paediatrician with see screening referrals but the complex patients (who are most likely to have signs) will be reserved for the visiting specialist clinics. I am sure something similar is true for adult medicine. So plan ahead:

1.        When are they?

2.       Contact the consultant and introduce yourself via email (shows your serious)

3.       Book personal study leave, annual leave or negotiate with your rota coordinator to be in clinic. Alternatively, go on your days off.

When you’re there make the most of it. Read before going. Write your questions down, things you don’t understand and ask them. Get clarity. Be active in the clinic. Dictate what you want to get from the clinic. This is far better than a course. You are having 1:1 coaching. You have a specialist of the system who understands their speciality better than anyone. When you truly understand something, you can explain it in a very simplistic way which is advantageous to you. It saves you time from reading all the textbooks. You will also see them having conversations with patients about things you will probably have to discuss in the communication stations. So, listen carefully.

 If you follow this idea for all the systems, you would have covered a great deal over time and I am sure you will agree this would be better than going to a few courses and spending a far bit.

Let’s just be clear, it is important to go to a course because these courses are typically ran by people who are examiners, follow the current guidance and get you motivated for the exam.

Should I be reading books and making notes?

This depends on your level of knowledge. It’s good to refresh things and fill in the gaps but remember this is a practical exam so please get practicing. Form a revision group, sign up to local hospital practice sessions and try not to hit the books too hard.

Communication stations

If your exams require you to talk to patients I would recommend you check out the patient websites. Rather than trying to think of ways to simplify complex conditions, tests and treatments read what the sites say. They have done the hard work and explain things in a great way for the general public to understand. So, use their approach. This is particularly useful if English isn’t your first language but I followed this strategy and I am born and raised in the UK and it was extremely useful.

I hope this helps you rethink your revision strategy. Postgraduate exams are always difficult not necessarily because of the content but the lack of time because of work, CV building and life.

Good luck!

Umar